Facing a potential ban in the US, the Chinese government is reportedly exploring various options for TikTok’s future, including the possibility of selling the social video platform to Elon Musk, according to Bloomberg.
The Chinese government, which holds a significant stake in TikTok, has long been unwilling to sell the platform and still prefers not to. However, if the US Supreme Court upholds a ban requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest—an outcome many experts anticipate—the Chinese government may consider selling TikTok to Musk. Bloomberg reports this could serve as a “potential area for reconciliation” with the Trump administration amid upcoming negotiations on tariffs, exports, and other issues. Musk, a close ally of Trump, has solidified his position as an influential and popular businessman in China through the success of his electric car company, Tesla.
Under this scenario, Musk’s X would take control of TikTok’s US operations. Such a deal would likely be valued at between $40 and $50 billion.
It’s important to note that this all of this seems very preliminary, as discussions have mostly been limited to the upper echelons of the Chinese government. It’s not clear whether Musk himself has been approached about the potential deal, though he previously expressed his support for TikTok remaining accessible in the US.
For its part, TikTok has denied that such a deal is on the table, calling the Bloomberg report “pure fiction.”